Customer Reviews

My Grandmother: A Memoir

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fethiye Chetin's moving account of her grandmother is a must read. It fills an important gap in the narrative of the Armenian Genocide, the story of Armenian children forcibly taken from their families during the genocide. It is a story of continued discrimination not only for the children, but also their own children later. Throughout the text, one also senses the psychological control over Armenians that continued well after the genocide.

For me personally, Fethiye's account was particularly moving as my own grandmother spent 6 years as a captive to a Turkish family that had abducted her, also in the region of Palu. If not for my grandmother's rescue by her sole surviving family member, this story and life could have been mine.

It is my hope that Fethiye's courage in writing this book will lead to many more about the thousands of "lost and forgotten" Armenians. As we see, the effects of genocide last well beyond the initial heinous crimes.

One of the best books I've read. It's a sad, touching story of one woman's life and journey...I've cried and I've smiled while reading this wonderful book. I am Armenian myself and this story touched me in many-many ways...
Thank you!

This book is an extremely well-written account about family. It is such a privilege that the author shared her story with us.

My granparents were survivors of the Armenian genocide; the story told in this book is so similar to what I have heard from both my grandmothers.
After so many decades of denial by the Turkish government that such crimes ever happened, it is really great to see finally people within Turkey that are willing to tell the truth.
I give Fethiye Cetin a lot of credit for her courage.
This is an excellent book, I highly recommend it.

This is an easy read, I went through it in a couple of sittings on the beach.
I have an aunt who the family "lost" for 50 years who had the same experience - taken from the death march line while her parents and 1 brother were killed and another brother escaped - which is why I was interested in this particular story.
The story moved me deeply.

I readed this book in a night. What a sad story of an Armenian women deprived of her religion and nationality. I wonder how many turks are from Armenian origin.
Fortunally for my grandparents, they got out of Turkey and came to Mexico. (They where two of the 350 Armenians that came to Mexico in the early 20's)

As a Turkish citizen, I am proud of Fethiye Cetin. In addition to the very moving topic, it is a very well written book.
It is similar to a story I heard from my grandfather about an adopted Armenian child in his village.
I understand her shock when she discovers her Armenian ancestry. I personally experienced that shock, when I learnt about the Armenian Genocide that Ottoman Empire committed.
It is very hurtful even for a Turkish citizen that Turkish state is continuously in denial about the genocide.
I wish we will have more Fethiye Cetins bridging between two nations.